News & Events

Virginia Launches Statewide Human Trafficking Awareness Campaign

More than 1 million drivers each week will see billboards and signs raising awareness of the realities of human trafficking and victims’ resources.

Virginia has launched a statewide campaign to raise awareness of human trafficking and resources available to victims. Beginning in December, billboards and signs began going up on major highways across the state, along with signage at every Virginia rest area, encouraging victims or those with information about possible human trafficking to contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center’s hotline.

In 2014, Virginia has had the fifth highest number of human trafficking cases referenced on the hotline, and experts believe human trafficking occurs in Virginia because of its location on the east coast, international air and sea ports, and large number of major interstates.

“The reality is that human trafficking is a growing problem across the country and internationally, and we cannot pretend that it doesn’t happen here in Virginia,” said Attorney General Herring. “By raising awareness about the existence and impact of human trafficking and promoting critical resources, we can help restore victims and seek justice against those who perpetrate this dehumanizing crime. Victims of human trafficking represent all ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, which is why we have to broaden our understanding of who is at risk. For many years, the Office of Attorney General has been a leader in the fight against human trafficking, and we are proud to continue this important work.”

Human trafficking is a $150 billion dollar enterprise worldwide, and is widely considered one of the fastest growing criminal industries in the world. The United Nations’ International Labor Organization estimates that there are 20.9 million victims of human trafficking globally, with hundreds of thousands of victims here in the United States. According to a survey conducted by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, most victims in Virginia are women age 20-39 from the United States or Latin America. Eighty percent of the victims are forced into prostitution or household work and twenty percent are forced into labor-intensive jobs for little or no pay.

For the next nine months, billboards along major interstate highways will bear the message “Human Trafficking Exists in Virginia. Look Around You,” as well as the national hotline for victims of human trafficking: 1-888-373-7888 or by texting “HELP” or “INFO” to “BeFree” (233733.) These billboards, which will be seen by more than 1 million motorists every week.

Additionally, stickers encouraging people to contact the hotline will be placed on mirrors in all 41 Virginia rest areas, serving 32 million motorists annually, and online advertisements, brochures, and posters are under development. Both the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline and BeFree texting helpline are operated by the non-profit Polaris Project.

The campaign is supported by a combination of federal grant funding administered by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, asset forfeiture funds administered by the Office of Attorney General, and in-kind donations of space by billboard owners Lamar Advertising.

In the last two years, the Office of Attorney General has conducted more than 50 trainings for local law enforcement and stakeholders to help them recognize the signs of human trafficking and successfully prosecute those who perpetrate it. In June, Attorney General Herring’s office hosted more than 100 law enforcement personnel, victim advocates, and service providers from across the state for a multi-day training conference in Richmond.The original article appeared on TheRoanokeStar.com »

May 28, 2020

Lamar Advertising Company Announces Cash Dividend on Common Stock

Lamar Advertising Company (Nasdaq: LAMR), a leading owner and operator of outdoor advertising and logo sign displays, announces that its board of directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.50 per share payable on June 30, 2020, to stockholders of record of Lamar’s Class A common stock and Class B common stock on June 22, 2020.

Lamar Advertising Company (Nasdaq: LAMR) announced today that due to the public health concerns associated with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and to support the health and well-being of our stockholders and employees, the location of the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company has been changed.